LIVESTOCK HANDLING

 

Farm workers, ranchers, family members and visitors are injured every year by livestock.  Many of these injuries occur to workers handling livestock.  However, these injuries tend to be less severe.

·       Label livestock handling areas to warn visitors to stay away.

·       Design livestock pens and handling facilities using recommended plans.

·       Facilities should be designed to allow workers easy access to animals for working with and handling the animals.

·       Make sure to use restraining equipment and use it properly.

·       Equip pens with emergency exit.

·       Animals have unpredictable behavior.  Be sure you understand some of the common instincts of animals:

-- strong territorial instinct

-- changes in lighting or shadows can excite or spook them as well as separation from other animals which can cause unpredictable behavior.

-- sudden or loud noises can frighten animals.

-- some types of livestock such as beef, swine and dairy cattle are colorblind and have poor depth perception which causes them to be sensitive to contrasts.

-- cattle and horses can see everything around them except directly behind their hindquarters.

·       Keep children and bystanders out of livestock handling areas.

 

Inspection

___Y  ___N  Gates, fences or pens in good repair

___Y  ___N  Aisles have no sharp projections

___Y  ___N  Restraining equipment useable

___Y  ___N  Escape gate or path from pens